Health and safety in the arboriculture industry

Arboriculture work involves a wide range of tree care and tree management activities such as climbing, pruning, trimming, maintaining and removing trees. Tree work exposes workers to a number of hazards, and the added complication of working at height can increase the risk of harm to arborists.

We have produced guidance on arboriculture work.

Safety and health in arboriculture

This guideis primarily aimed at the arboriculture industry. It provides guidance on how to safely climb, prune, trim, maintain and remove trees, cut brush and for using equipment. It does not provide advice on electrical hazards.

While this guidance has not been updated to reflect current work health and safety legislation (the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 and regulations), it may still contain relevant information and practices to keep workers and others healthy and safe.

Please read this guidance in conjunction with all relevant industry standards that apply to you as a PCBU. This guidance will be progressively reviewed and either updated, replaced with other guidance, or revoked.

Maintenance of trees around power lines

The Approved code of practice for safety and health in tree work - Part 2: Maintenance of trees around power lines describes minimum standards and preferred work practices for work on trees near power lines.

While this guidance has not been updated to reflect current work health and safety legislation (the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 and regulations), it may still contain relevant information and practices to keep workers and others healthy and safe.

Please read this guidance in conjunction with all relevant industry standards that apply to you as a PCBU. This guidance will be progressively reviewed and either updated, replaced with other guidance, or revoked.

Safe use of wood chippers

Guidance on the protection needed for operators of hand-fed wood chippers.